A couple of weeks ago the A to Z April Blogging Challenge lost one of its own. Tina Downey, who blogged at Life Is Good, lost her battle with pulmonary hypertension.
Tina was one of the pillars of the A to Z Blogging community. I had the good fortune to meet Tina in 2012, my first year of Challenge participation. I was lucky enough to be assigned to her group that first year. I had all of two weeks blogging experience back then and Tina was the mentor I needed to see me through April. Her group introduced themselves to each other and to Tina by email before the event and we know going in that we wouldn’t be alone.
Tina was a real nurturer who would check in on us regularly, whilst carrying her own A to Z blogging duties and also running the Challenge. She carried on long after the Challenge was over, leading the A to Z Road Trip. This is the trip through the A to Z Challenge sign up list that starts after the Challenge is over and lets participants visit those Challenge blogs that they missed during April.
The outpouring of thought and word for Tina is running through the blogging community. An outpouring not confined to Challenge participants and not confined by blogging platform.
Today, the blogging community remembers its own by decorating the blogosphere with sunflowers. The sunflower was Tina’s favourite flower and she deserves a field of them.
So, here’s to you Tina, may fields of sunflowers pave your way in the universe.
Austrian sunflower seeds from a moving train – July 2014 (c) curtainraiser
When I took the above picture I knew not its import nor its future use.
I’m glad it mattered. Glad for its meaning.
Glad to have crossed blogging paths with Tina.
Rest In Peace.
Image from Barney Livingston’s Flickr photostream
Raising the Curtain 
A lovely tribute Jude, obviously that picture was meant to be. I believe another one of our Word Press people passed last week. It is comforting knowing that we are all connected even in a small way. R.I.P Tina.
The blogging community is indeed a caring one and its amazing when we come together. Sad news about the other WP blogger. RIP to that person also.
I didn’t know Tina, but it sounds like she was a wonderful blogging friend. I’ve seen many lovely tribute posts to her this morning.
Oh, Judy, that photo from your trip brought tears to my eyes. It is the essence of all of us saying “live in the moment” . Little did you know how meaningful that moment would become.
Your choice for your other photo is so fitting – one of a kind and breathtaking in its splendor. That’s so Tina 🙂
Love and happy wishes coming to you from earthly friends and heavenly spirits.
Judy, thanks for the nice tribute and gloriuos pictures of sunflowers. When do you come stateside? BTG
I didn’t know Tina. This is a wonderful tribute and sunflowers a fitting flower because looking at one you break out in a smile. Sounds, this lady did the same for others. ❤
Thank you for contributing your thoughts to our tribute to Tina. You captured the essence of her spirit in your words.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Tina will be missed! For you, dear! ❤
♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
I love that field of sunflowers…
I’ll always remember her through her motto… Life is good!
Rest in peace, Tina.
How extraordinary that you took that beautiful photo Judy not knowing it’s import in time to come ..
and that you actually met her. The 2nd photo is also extraordinary with its beautiful spiral .. thank you for this tribute to dear Tina.
Tina had a way of just making everyone feel like a friend.
Thank you,
Heather
Wonderful field of sunflowers!
I love the photo from your trip, and what a fascinating photo you found in addition.